Gaza in the Heart

By; Ali qleibo

Gaza in its heyday early nineteenth century with the old walls still encircling the city. Visible is the western gate leading into the city ....

One of Palestine’s major cities boasted of its local moslem aristocracy that hailed of noble pedigree from Mecca and Medina on a par with Jerusalem. 

Its position on the Silk Road leading to Egypt and its harbour ensured the pass of most caravans through it to make it a thriving city with a vibrant economic market. It was wealthy and beautiful to such an extent that NApoleon took it as his base and stayed in the palace of the illustrious Radwan family that still survives in downtown Gaza. So pleasant was life there napoleydid not consider and did not even visit Jerusalem!

 

The commercially centrality of the city drew its geopolitical importance throughout history.

Alexander the Great laid  a long siege around the city....

On the edge of the Arabian peninsula the grandfather of our prophet Mohammed, Hashem was a merchant, died and is buried there hence its Arabic name Gaza of Hashem  غزة هاشم 

Intermarriages between noble families of Jerusalem and Gaza descendants from the family and companions of the prophet and daughters and sons of illustrious theologians and muftis they strike deep roots in the port city on the edge of the desert where the African and Asian continents meet . Our intermarriages with Gazzans which make us Jerusalemites consider Gaza our second home !

I was lucky enough to have visited Gaza in the old days under Naser and throughout the years of the Intifada culminating with Oslo and its sad closure and eventual state of siege.

This closure and the deteriorating situation there, the transformation of Gazans into captives between the hammer of Fateh and the anvil of hamas has created an open wound in our hearts.

Albeit, Palestinian nationalism survives in Gaza and Jerusalem 

And we both share the same values irrespective of the political structures superimposed on us through Israeli occupation and its Arab allies!